Method of and apparatus for recording data on write-once disc and write-once disc therefor

ABSTRACT

A method of recording, and an apparatus to record, data on a write-once disc, and the write-once disc used with the method and apparatus. The write-once disc includes a plurality of update areas in which to record a predetermined type of updated information, at least one main access information area (AIA) in which to record main access information (AI), the main AI indicating a final update area in which finally updated information is recorded, among the plurality of update areas, and at least one sub AIA in which to record sub AI, the sub AI indicating a location of the finally updated information recorded in the final update area.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application is a continuation of U.S. application Ser. No.11/052,165 filed on Feb. 8, 2005, now pending, which claims the benefitof Korean Patent Application No. 2004-9836, filed on Feb. 14, 2004, and2004-106538, filed on Dec. 15, 2004, in the Korean Intellectual PropertyOffice, the disclosures of which are incorporated herein by reference.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to a write-once disc, and, moreparticularly, to a method of recording, and an apparatus to record, dataon a write-once disc so as to access more quickly information requiredto use the write-once disc, and a write-once disc used with the abovemethod and apparatus.

2. Description of the Related Art

New information can be repeatedly recorded on a rewritable disc on whichinformation has already been recorded. However, when new information isrecorded on a write-once disc, since information that has already beenrecorded can be neither erased nor repeatedly recorded at a locationwhere the information was already recorded, a new location must beallocated in order to update the information already recorded.

Generally, only information which has been finally updated ismeaningful. Therefore, to read the information which has been finallyupdated, an update area is allocated to a data area, and a datarecording and/or reproducing apparatus detects the information which hasbeen finally updated by searching for the update area in which updatedinformation is recorded. When a large amount of information is recordedin the update area, it takes an excessive amount of time to detectdesired information.

On a write-once disc for which defect management by a data recordingand/or reproducing apparatus is performed, areas exist in which torecord information for managing defects generated while the write-oncedisc is being used, and information indicating a recording status of thewrite-once disc. Unlike a rewritable disc, according to a characteristicof the write-once disc, since updated information cannot be repeatedlyrecorded at a location where existing information has been recorded whenan update of the defect management information is required, the updatedinformation must be recorded at an empty location. Accordingly, arelatively large update area is necessary. In general, the update areais allocated to a lead-in area or a lead-out area. However, sometimes,the update area may be allocated to a data area in order to increase anupdate count according to a user's designation.

When finally updated information required to use the write-once disc isrecorded in the update area allocated to the data area, and wheninformation indicating that the update area is allocated to the dataarea and information indicating a location of the update area areincluded in the finally updated information, the finally updatedinformation or a location in which the finally updated information isrecorded cannot be detected, even if the entire update area allocated tothe lead-in area or the lead-out area is searched.

Even if a data recording and/or reproducing apparatus detects that thefinally updated information is recorded in the update area allocated tothe data area, if the size of the update area is large, it may take anexcessive amount of time to search the finally updated informationrecorded in the update area.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention provides a write-once disc having accessinformation error-correction-coded in a predetermined method andrepeatedly recorded thereon, the access information allowing an accesstime to read updated information required to use the write-once disc tobe reduced.

The present invention also provides a data recording apparatus andmethod by which an access time to read updated information required touse a write-once disc can be reduced.

Additional aspects and/or advantages of the invention will be set forthin part in the description which follows and, in part, will be obviousfrom the description, or may be learned by practice of the invention.

According to an aspect of the present invention, there is provided awrite-once disc comprising: a plurality of update areas in which torecord a predetermined type of updated information; at least one mainaccess information area (AIA) in which to record main access information(AI), the main access information indicating a final update area inwhich finally updated information is recorded, among the plurality ofupdate areas; and at least one sub AIA in which to record sub AI, thesub AI indicating a location of the finally updated information recordedin the final update area; wherein the main AI is repeatedly recorded inan entire recording block in the at least one main AIA.

According to another aspect of the present invention, there is provideda write-once disc comprising: a plurality of update areas in which torecord a predetermined type of updated information; and at least one AIAin which to record AI, the AI indicating a final update area, in whichfinally updated information is recorded, among the plurality of updateareas; wherein the AI includes location information of the plurality ofupdate areas, first flag information indicating the final update area,and second flag information indicating a location of the finally updatedinformation recorded in the final update area.

According to another aspect of the present invention, there is provideda write-once disc comprising: a plurality of update areas, which areused in a predetermined order, and in which to record a predeterminedtype of updated information; and at least one AIA in which to record AIincluding location information of the plurality of update areas, inrecording block units; wherein a final update area, in which to recordfinally updated information, among the plurality of update areas isindicated according to a number of recording blocks in which the AI isrecorded; and the AI is repeatedly recorded in an entire recording blockof the AIA.

According to another aspect of the present invention, there is provideda data recording apparatus comprising: a write/read unit to write orread information on or from a write-once disc; and a controller tocontrol the write/read unit to: record a predetermined type of finallyupdated information in one of a plurality of update areas allocated tothe write-once disc, record main AI in at least one main AIA allocatedto the write-once disc to indicate a final update area in which thefinally updated information is recorded, and record sub AI in at leastone sub AIA allocated to the write-once disc to indicate a location ofthe finally updated information recorded in the final update area,wherein the controller controls the write/read unit to repeatedly writethe main AI in an entire recording block in the main AIA.

According to another aspect of the present invention, there is provideda data recording apparatus comprising: a write/read unit to write orread information on or from a write-once disc; and a controllercontrolling the write/read unit to record: a predetermined type offinally updated information in one of a plurality of update areasallocated to the write-once disc, and record AI indicating a finalupdate area, in which the finally updated information is recorded, in atleast one AIA allocated to the write-once disc, wherein the AI includeslocation information of the plurality of update areas, first flaginformation indicating the final update area, and second flaginformation indicating a location of the finally updated informationrecorded in the final update area, and the controller controls thewrite/read unit to repeatedly write the AI in an entire recording blockin the AIA.

According to another aspect of the present invention, there is providedan apparatus to record data on a write-once disc having a plurality ofupdate areas used in a predetermined order and at least one AIA, theapparatus comprising: a write/read unit to write or read information onor from the write-once disc; and a controller controlling the write/readunit to: record a predetermined type of finally updated information inone of the plurality of update areas, and record AI including locationinformation of the plurality of update areas in the AIA in recordingblock units and indicating a final update area, in which the finallyupdated information is recorded, among the plurality of update areasusing a number of recording blocks in which the AI is recorded, whereinthe controller controls the write/read unit to repeatedly write the AIin an entire recording block in the AIA.

According to another aspect of the present invention, there is provideda method of recording data on a write-once disc, the method comprising:recording a predetermined type of finally updated information in one ofa plurality of update areas allocated to the write-once disc; recordingmain AI in at least one main AIA allocated to the write-once disc toindicate a final update area in which the finally updated information isrecorded; and recording sub in at least one sub AIA allocated to thewrite-once disc to indicate a location of the finally updatedinformation recorded in the final update area; wherein the main AI isrepeatedly recorded in an entire recording block in the at least onemain AIA.

According to another aspect of the present invention, there is provideda method of recording data on a write-once disc, the method comprising:recording a predetermined type of finally updated information in one ofa plurality of update areas allocated to the write-once disc; andrecording AI indicating a final update area, in which the finallyupdated information is recorded, in at least one AIA allocated to thewrite-once disc; wherein the AI includes location information of theplurality of update areas, first flag information indicating the finalupdate area, and second flag information indicating a location of thefinally updated information recorded in the final update area, and theAI is repeatedly recorded in an entire recording block in the AIA.

According to another aspect of the present invention, there is provideda method of recording data on a write-once disc having a plurality ofupdate areas used in a predetermined order and at least one AIA, themethod comprising: recording a predetermined type of updated informationin one of the plurality of update areas; and indicating a final updatearea in which finally updated information is recorded among theplurality of update areas according to a number of recording blocks inwhich AI is recorded by recording the AI, including location informationof the plurality of update areas, in the AIA in recording block units;wherein the AI is repeatedly recorded in an entire recording block inthe AIA.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

These and/or other aspects and advantages of the invention will becomeapparent and more readily appreciated from the following description ofthe embodiments, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings ofwhich:

FIGS. 1A and 1B are structures of a write-once disc according to anembodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a detailed structure of a write-once disc having a singlerecording layer according to an embodiment of the present invention;

FIGS. 3A and 3B are detailed structures of a write-once disc having adouble recording layer according to an embodiment of the presentinvention;

FIGS. 4A and 4B are detailed structures of a write-once disc having adouble recording layer according to another embodiment of the presentinvention;

FIGS. 5A and 5B illustrate a process of recording data in a user dataarea and a spare area according to an embodiment of the presentinvention;

FIG. 6 is a data structure of temporary disc management informationaccording to an embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 7 is a data structure of a temporary disc management area (TDMA)divided into a sub access information area (AIA) and a plurality of subareas;

FIG. 8 illustrates a main AIA and a sub AIA according to an embodimentof the present invention;

FIGS. 9A and 9B illustrate sub AIAs according to another embodiment ofthe present invention;

FIG. 10 is a data structure of access information according to anembodiment of the present invention; and

FIG. 11 is a block diagram of a data recording and/or reproducingapparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE EMBODIMENTS

Reference will now be made in detail to the present embodiments of thepresent invention, examples of which are illustrated in the accompanyingdrawings, wherein like reference numerals refer to the like elementsthroughout. The embodiments are described below in order to explain thepresent invention by referring to the figures.

FIGS. 1A and 1B are structures of a write-once disc according to anembodiment of the present invention. FIG. 1A is a structure of awrite-once disc having a single recording layer, and FIG. 1B is astructure of a write-once disc having a double recording layer.

The write-once disc having a single recording layer in FIG. 1A includesa lead-in area, a data area, and a lead-out area arranged from the innercircumference to the outer circumference.

Each of a first recording layer L0 and a second recording layer L1 ofthe write-once disc having a double recording layer in FIG. 1B includesa lead-in area, a data area, and a lead-out area arranged from the innercircumference to the outer circumference.

FIG. 2 is a detailed structure of the write-once disc having a singlerecording layer according to an embodiment of the present invention.Referring to FIG. 2, the lead-in area includes a first disc managementarea (DMA1), a second disc management area (DMA2), a first temporarydisc management area (TDMA1), an access information area (AIA), and arecording condition test area. The lead-out area includes a third discmanagement area (DMA3) and a fourth disc management area (DMA4). Also,the lead-out area may further include at least one of a temporary defectmanagement area, a recording condition test area, and an AIA. That is,there may be at least one of each of the AIA, the DMA, the TDMA, and therecording condition test area in at least one of the lead-in area andthe lead-out area.

The AIA is an area in which to record access information indicating alocation at which update information, such as defect managementinformation that a recording and/or reproducing apparatus should obtainto use a write-once disc, is recorded. The access information and theAIA will be described later.

The data area includes a first spare area, a user data area, a secondtemporary disc management area (TDMA2), and a second spare area.

The TDMA1 included in the lead-in area is assigned during manufacturing,based on the specification of the write-once disc according to thepresent embodiment. However, the first spare area, the TDMA2, and thesecond spare area included in the data area are allocated to the dataarea by a user's selection in a process of initializing the write-oncedisc.

FIGS. 3A and 3B are detailed structures of a write-once disc having adouble recording layer according to an embodiment of the presentinvention. FIG. 3A is a structure of a first recording layer L0, andFIG. 3B is a structure of a second recording layer L1. The structure ofthe first recording layer L0 shown in FIG. 3A is identical to thestructure of the write-once disc having a single recording layer shownin FIG. 2. The structure of the second recording layer L1 shown in FIG.3B is similar to the structure of the first recording layer L0. However,in the structure of the second recording layer L1, the AIA is notallocated to a second inner area, and two TDMAs are allocated to asecond data area.

The write-once disc having a double recording layer includes five TDMAs,a TDMA1 through a TDMA5. Locations and sizes of the TDMA1 and TDMA2 arewell known to recording apparatuses and/or reproducing apparatuses.However, a TDMA3, a TDMA4, and the TDMA5 are allocated to data areas bya user or a recording and/or reproducing apparatus when a discinitialization is performed to use the write-once disc having a doublerecording layer.

FIGS. 4A and 4B are detailed structures of a write-once disc having adouble recording layer according to another embodiment of the presentinvention. FIG. 4A is a structure of a first recording layer L0, andFIG. 4B is a structure of a second recording layer L1. A TDMA1, a TDMA2,and a TDMA5 are allocated to the write-once disc having a doublerecording layer shown in FIGS. 4A and 4B. That is, besides the wellknown TDMA1 and TDMA2, only the TDMA5 is allocated to a second data areaby a user or a recording and/or reproducing apparatus when a discinitialization is performed to use the write-once disc having a doublerecording layer.

Areas such as TDMAs allocated to a write-once disc, and a process ofrecording data in the areas, will now be described.

A TDMA is an area in which to record a temporary disc managementstructure (TDMS) for management of the write-once disc before afinalization of the write-once disc. The finalization of the write-oncedisc is an operation preventing the write-once disc from being recordedagain. When data cannot be recorded on the write-once disc any more by aselection of a user, or when data cannot additionally be recorded on thewrite-once disc, the write-once disc is finalized.

The TDMS includes a temporary disc defect list (TDFL), a temporary discdefinition structure (TDDS), and a space bit map (SBM). The TDFLincludes information indicating an area in which a defect is generatedand information indicating a substitute area. The TDDS, which is used tomanage the TDFL, includes a location pointer indicating a location inwhich the TDFL is recorded, a location pointer indicating a location inwhich the SBM is recorded, information indicating locations and sizes ofspare areas allocated to data areas, and information indicatinglocations and sizes of TDMAs allocated to the data areas. The SBM showsa data recording status of the write-once disc with a bit map byallocating different bit values to clusters in which data is recorded incluster units, which are data recording units, and clusters in whichdata is not recorded.

When the write-once disc is loaded into the recording and/or reproducingapparatus, a finally updated TDMS, in particular, a finally updatedTDDS, must be quickly read and reproduced from the write-once disc inorder to use the write-once disc in the apparatus.

Commonly, when the write-once disc is loaded into the recordingapparatus and/or the reproducing apparatus, the recording apparatusand/or the reproducing apparatus determines how to manage the write-oncedisc and how to record or reproduce data by reading information from thelead-in area and/or the lead-out area. If an amount of informationrecorded in the lead-in area and/or the lead-out area is large, moretime is taken to prepare recording or reproducing after the write-oncedisc is loaded. Therefore, a concept of the TDMS is used, and the TDMSgenerated while data is recorded on or reproduced from the write-oncedisc is recorded in the TDMA, which is separated from a defectmanagement area, and allocated to the lead-in area and/or the lead-outarea.

When the write-once disc is finalized, the TDMS, i.e., the TDFL and theTDDS, recorded in the TDMA is finally recorded in a DMA since aninformation access to quickly use the write-once disc is possible byallowing the recording and/or reproducing apparatus to read onlymeaningful information from the defect management area by storing onlyfinally meaningful information among TDFLs and TDDSs, which are updatedand recorded several times, in the DMA.

FIGS. 5A and 5B illustrate a process of recording data in a user dataarea and a spare area according to an embodiment of the presentinvention.

FIG. 5A denotes the user data area, and FIG. 5B denotes the spare area.A method of recording user data in the user data area includes acontinuous recording mode and a random recording mode. The user data isrecorded continuously and sequentially in the continuous recording modeand randomly in the random recording mode. Zones {circle around (1)}through {circle around (7)} indicate units in which verification afterrecording is performed.

A recording apparatus writes the user data in the zone {circle around(1)} and verifies whether the user data has been normally written or adefect has been generated in the zone {circle around (1)}. If a portionin which a defect has been generated is found, the portion is designatedas a defect area, i.e., defect #1. Also, the recording apparatusrewrites the user data, which has been written in the defect #1, in thespare area. The user data that has been written in the defect #1 isrewritten in a portion of the spare area called a substitute #1. Therecording apparatus writes the user data in the zone {circle around (2)}and verifies whether the user data has been normally written or a defecthas been generated in the zone {circle around (2)}. If a portion inwhich a defect is generated is found, the portion is designated as adefect area, i.e., defect #2. Likewise, a substitute #2, correspondingto the defect #2, is generated. Also, in the zone {circle around (3)}, adefect #3 and a substitute #3 are generated. In the zone {circle around(4)}, a defect area does not exist, since a portion in which a defecthas been generated is not found.

If an end of a recording operation #1 is predicted after the user datais written and verified, that is, if a user pushes an eject button, orif recording of the user data allocated to a recording operation isfinished, the recording apparatus writes information related to thedefect #1, the defect #2, and the defect #3, which are defect areasgenerated in the zones {circle around (1)} through {circle around (4)},in the TDMA as a TDFL #1. Also, a management structure to manage theTDFL #1 is written in the TDMA as a TDDS #1. The recording operation isa work unit determined by an intention of the user or a desiredrecording work. In the present embodiment, the recording operationindicates a period from when the write-once disc is loaded, and arecording work of predetermined information is performed, to when thewrite-once disc is unloaded from the recording apparatus.

When the write-once disc is loaded again, a recording operation #2starts, a recording condition in the recording condition test area istested, and the user data is written on the basis of the test result.That is, in the recording operation #2, the user data is written inzones {circle around (5)} through {circle around (7)} in the same mannerof the recording operation #1, and a defect #4, a defect #5, asubstitute #4, and a substitute #5 are generated. When the recordingoperation #2 ends, the recording apparatus writes information related tothe defect #4 and the defect #5 in the TDMA as a TDFL #2. Also, amanagement structure to manage the TDFL #2 is written in the TDMA as aTDDS #2.

As shown in FIGS. 2, 3A, 3B, 4A, and 4B, when a plurality of TDMAs andspare areas are allocated to the write-once disc, the TDMAs and spareareas are used in a predetermined order. For example, when a data writepath used in the write-once disc having a double recording layer, asshown in FIGS. 3A and 3B, is an opposite track path, i.e., a path wheredata is recorded from a first inner area of the first recording layer L0to a first outer area of the first recording layer L0, and a secondinner area of the second recording layer L1 to a second outer area ofthe second recording layer L1, data in the spare areas is recordedstarting from a first spare area of the first recording layer L0. Whenthe first spare area is full, a second spare area, a third spare area,and a fourth spare area are used in this order.

Likewise, the TDMS is recorded starting from the TDMA1 of the firstrecording layer L0. When the TDMA1 is full, an updated TDMS is recordedin the TDMA2 allocated to the second inner area of the second recordinglayer L1. When the TDMA2 is full, a newly updated TDMS is recorded inthe TDMA3 allocated to a first data area of the first recording layerL0. In the present embodiment, the TDMA1 and the TDMA2 allocated to theinner areas of the recording layers are essential to the write-oncedisc. However, the TDMA(s) allocated to the data areas may be or may notbe allocated by a selection of the user. Therefore, the TDMS is recordedin a sequential manner starting with the TDMAs allocated to the innerareas of the recording layers. When the TDMAs allocated to the innerareas of the recording layers are full, the TDMAs allocated to the dataareas are used.

When a finally updated TDMS is written in a TDMA allocated to a dataarea, the write-once disc is unloaded, and the write-once disc isreloaded into a recording and/or reproducing apparatus, the recordingand/or reproducing apparatus must obtain the finally updated TDMS to usethe write-once disc. However, the TDMS is recorded in the TDMA allocatedto the data area, and the recording and/or reproducing apparatus cannotrecognize the fact that the TDMS is recorded in the TDMA allocated tothe data area until the disc drive accesses the TDDS included in theTDMS. Also, even if the recording and/or reproducing apparatusrecognizes the fact that the finally updated TDMS is recorded in theTDMA allocated to the data area, if the size of the TDMA is large, itmay take an excessive amount of time to search the finally updated TDMSrecorded in the TDMA.

To solve this problem, three embodiments will now be suggested in thepresent invention. In these three embodiments, access information (AI)indicates a location where update information such as the TDMS, inparticular, the TDDS, is recorded. Also, the update informationindicates information that a recording and/or reproducing apparatusshould recognize to use a write-once disc in an initial period when thewrite-once disc is loaded into the recording and/or reproducingapparatus. Also, an area in which the update information is recorded iscalled an update area. In these three embodiments, the updateinformation is the TDDS, and the update area is the TDMA.

I. The First Embodiment

In the present embodiment, at least one main AIA used to record main AIis allocated to a lead-in area or an inner area of a write-once disc,and a sub AIA is allocated to a TDMA.

When the write-once disc is loaded, a recording and/or reproducingapparatus first obtains the main AI by accessing the main AIA. Therecording and/or reproducing apparatus recognizes a TDMA in which afinally updated TDDS is recorded from the main AI, and then obtains asub AI by accessing a sub AIA of the TDMA. Since the recording and/orreproducing apparatus can recognize a location where the finally updatedTDDS is recorded in the TDMA from the sub AI, time required to searchfor the finally updated TDDS in the TDMA can be reduced.

The AIA allocated to the write-once disc shown in FIGS. 2, 3A, and 4A isthe main AIA according to the present embodiment. The size of the mainAIA is preferably, though not necessarily, limited by minimizing anamount of main AI recorded in the main AIA and a main AI update countsince it takes longer to obtain the main AI if the size of the main AIAis larger, or a plurality of main AIAs are allocated. In order tominimize the main AI update count, when the TDMA in which a final TDDSis recorded is changed, the main AI is recorded in one recording unitblock of the main AIA.

FIG. 6 is a data structure of a TDDS according to the first embodimentof the present invention. In the present embodiment, a data structure ofa separate main AI is not defined, and the TDDS is used as the main AI.As described above, the TDDS includes location information of TDMAsallocated to a write-once disc. As shown in FIGS. 3A and 3B, when theTDMA1 through TDMA5 are allocated to the write-once disc, the TDDSincludes location information of the TDMA1 through TDMA5.

In the present embodiment, a recording and/or reproducing apparatus canrecognize a TDMA in which a final TDDS is recorded from the number ofrecording unit blocks in which TDDSs are recorded in a main AIA. A casein which TDMA1 through TDMA5 are allocated to a write-once disc, andused in an order of TDMA1, TDMA2, TDMA3, TDMA4, and TDMA5, will now bedescribed in detail. If the main AI, i.e. the TDDS, is not recorded inthe main AIA at all, the recording and/or reproducing apparatusrecognizes that the final TDDS is recorded in a first TDMA, i.e., theTDMA1.

If a TDDS is recorded only in a first block of the main AIA, therecording and/or reproducing apparatus recognizes that the final TDDS isrecorded in a second TDMA, i.e., the TDMA2. If TDDSs are recorded infirst and second blocks of the main AIA, the recording and/orreproducing apparatus recognizes that the final TDDS is recorded in athird TDMA, i.e., the TDMA3. Likewise, if TDDSs are recorded in firstthrough third blocks of the main AIA, the recording and/or reproducingapparatus recognizes that the final TDDS is recorded in a fourth TDMA,i.e., the TDMA4. And if TDDSs are recorded in first through fourthblocks of the main AIA, the recording and/or reproducing apparatusrecognizes that the final TDDS is recorded in a fifth TDMA, i.e., theTDMA5.

As described above, the recording and/or reproducing apparatusrecognizes a TDMA in which a final TDDS is recorded from the number ofrecording unit blocks in which TDDSs are recorded in the main AIA, andreproduces the TDDS finally recorded in the main AIA. Accordingly, therecording and/or reproducing apparatus can recognize locationinformation of the TDMA from the TDDS.

According to the present embodiment, the size of the main AIA depends onthe number of TDMAs allocated to a write-once disc. That is, if N TDMAsexist in the write-once disc, the main AIA includes at least (N−1)recording unit blocks.

It is preferable, though not necessary, that a TDDS recorded as the mainAI in the main AIA is repeatedly recorded in one recording block. If thesize of the TDDS is equal to the size of one sector, 2K bytes, and ifthe size of the recording unit block is 64K bytes, one TDDS can berepeatedly recorded 32 times in one recording block. An error correctionformat that enables error correction in sector units is disclosed inU.S. Pat. No. 6,367,049. If one TDDS is repeatedly recorded 32 times inone recording unit block of a 64 Kbyte size according to the errorcorrection format disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 6,367,049, a possibility ofsuccessfully reproducing the TDDS can be highly increased. That is, evenif errors due to scratches are generated on the recording unit block inwhich the TDDS, the AI, is repeatedly recorded 32 times, if errorcorrection of at least one TDDS among the 32 repeated TDDSs is possible,the recording and/or reproducing apparatus can obtain the AI.

The sub AIA and the sub AI will now be described. The sub AIA isallocated starting from a first block of each TDMA, and the size of thesub AIA depends on how many sub areas a TDMA, including the sub AIA, isdivided into.

FIG. 7 is a data structure of a TDMA divided into a sub AIA and aplurality of sub areas. Like the main AIA, a TDDS is used as a sub AI,and a recording and/or reproducing apparatus recognizes a sub area inwhich a final TDDS is recorded in the TDMA from the number of recordingunit blocks in which TDDSs are recorded in the sub AIA.

As in the case in which the main AI is recorded in the main AIA, theTDDS recorded as the sub AI may be repeatedly recorded in one recordingunit block.

As shown in FIG. 7, the TDMA is divided into first through M^(th) subTDMAs, and when the sub areas are sequentially used in a direction fromthe first sub TDMA to the M^(th) sub TDMA, if a TDDS is not recorded inthe sub AIA at all, the recording and/or reproducing apparatusrecognizes that a final TDDS is recorded in the first sub TDMA, i.e.,Sub TDMA 1.

If a TDDS is recorded only in a first block of the sub AIA, therecording and/or reproducing apparatus recognizes that the final TDDS isrecorded in a second sub TDMA, i.e., Sub TDMA 2. If TDDSs are recordedin first and second blocks of the sub AIA, the recording and/orreproducing apparatus recognizes that the final TDDS is recorded in athird sub TDMA, i.e., Sub TDMA 3. According to the present embodiment,the size of the sub AIA allocated to each TDMA depends on the number ofsub areas allocated to each TDMA. That is, if M sub areas exist in aTDMA, the sub AIA should include at least (M−1) recording unit blocks.

FIG. 8 illustrates a main AIA and a sub AIA according to an embodimentof the present invention. A write-once disc according to the presentembodiment is a disc in which only a TDMA5 is allocated to a data areawhen initialization to use the disc is performed as shown in FIGS. 4Aand 4B. The main AIA includes 4 recording unit blocks. In the presentembodiment, the TDMA5 includes 35,000 blocks and is divided into unitsof 4,000 blocks (except for one unit that contains only 3,000 blocks).That is, the TDMA5 includes 9 sub areas. Therefore, as described above,the sub AIA includes 8 recording unit blocks.

When the write-once disc is initialized, or when a TDMA1 is used, mainAI is not recorded in the main AIA. If a location where a final TDDS isrecorded is changed to a TDMA2, a recording and/or reproducing apparatusindicates that the final TDDS is recorded in the TDMA2 by recording aTDDS in a first block of the main AIA.

If a location where the final TDDS is recorded is changed to the TDMA5,the recording and/or reproducing apparatus indicates that the final TDDSis recorded in a first sub area of the TDMA5 by recording TDDSs insecond, third, and fourth blocks of the main AIA.

FIGS. 9A and 9B illustrate sub AIAs according to another embodiment ofthe present invention. A write-once disc according to the presentembodiment is a disc in which a TDMA3, a TDMA4, and a TDMA5 areallocated to a data area when initialization to use the disc isperformed as shown in FIGS. 3A and 3B. Therefore, as described above,since 5 TDMAs are allocated, the main AIA includes 4 recording unitblocks. In the present embodiment, each of the TDMA3 and the TDMA4includes 16,000 blocks, and the TDMA5 includes 35,000 blocks as shown inFIG. 8.

FIG. 9A illustrates a data structure of the TDMA3, and FIG. 9Billustrates a data structure of the TDMA4. The TDMA3 includes 4 subareas. Therefore, a sub AIA included in the TDMA3 includes 3 recordingunit blocks. Since the TDMA4 is the same as the TDMA3, a sub AIAincluded in the TDMA4 also includes 3 recording unit blocks.

The TDMA5 is divided into units of 4,000 recording unit blocks (exceptfor the one unit that contains only 3,000 recording unit blocks), andincludes 9 sub areas. Therefore, as described above, a sub AIA includedin the TDMA5 includes 8 recording unit blocks.

As described above, according to the first embodiment, a recordingand/or reproducing apparatus can more quickly access a location where afinal TDDS is recorded by recording main AI in a main AIA, and sub AI ina sub AIA.

An operation in which a recording and/or reproducing apparatus accessesa location where the final TDDS is recorded from the main AI and the subAI will now be described in more detail.

According to the first embodiment, when a write-once disc in which mainAI and sub AI are recorded is loaded in a recording and/or reproducingapparatus, the recording and/or reproducing apparatus accesses a mainAIA. If information is not recorded in the main AIA at all, therecording and/or reproducing apparatus determines that a final TDDS isrecorded in a TDMA1, or the write-once disc is a blank disc, andaccesses the TDMA1. If no data is recorded in the TDMA1, the recordingand/or reproducing apparatus recognizes that the write-once disc is ablank disc and starts initialization for using the write-once disc. Ifdata is recorded in the TDMA1, the recording and/or reproducingapparatus obtains the final TDDS from the TDMA1.

if data is recorded in the main AIA, the recording and/or reproducingapparatus reproduces a TDDS by accessing a block in which the data isfinally recorded. The recording and/or reproducing apparatus recognizeswhich block is the block in which the data is finally recorded, andrecognizes in which TDMA the final TDDS is recorded. Also, the recordingand/or reproducing apparatus can recognize the size of a TDMA in whichthe final TDDS is recorded from the reproduced TDDS, and recognizewhether a sub AIA is allocated to the TDMA from the size information.And, if the sub AIA is allocated to the TDMA, the recording and/orreproducing apparatus can recognize the size of the sub AIA. If the subAIA is not allocated to the TDMA in which the final TDDS is recorded,the recording and/or reproducing apparatus searches for the final TDDSfrom the TDMA.

However, if the sub AIA is allocated to the TDMA in which the final TDDSis recorded, the recording and/or reproducing apparatus accesses the subAIA, recognizes up to which block data is recorded, and recognizes inwhich sub area of the TDMA in which the final TDDS is recorded, thefinal TDDS is recorded.

II. The Second Embodiment

Unlike the first embodiment, in the second embodiment, sub AIAs are notallocated, and at least one AIA used to record AI is allocated to alead-in area or an inner area of a write-once disc.

FIG. 10 is a data structure of access information (AI) according to anembodiment of the present invention. The data structure of the AI shownin FIG. 10 is substantially identical to a data structure of a TDDS.However, a flag indicating a TDMA in which a final TDDS is recorded isfurther included in the TDDS.

In the present embodiment, the flag includes first flag informationindicating the TDMA in which the final TDDS is recorded, and second flaginformation indicating which part of the TDMA indicated by the firstflag information the final TDDS is recorded in.

The first flag information is comprised of 4 bits, b4 through b7. Forexample, it can be defined that the final TDDS is recorded in a TDMA1when b4 through b7 are “0000b”, a TDMA2 when b4 through b7 are “0001b”,a TDMA3 when b4 through b7 are “0010b”, a TDMA4 when b4 through b7 are“0100b”, and a TDMA5 when b4 through b7 are “1000b”.

The second flag information is comprised of 4 bits, b0 through b3. Thesecond flag information in a case where the first flag informationindicates the TDMA5, which is divided into 5 sub areas, will now bedescribed as an example. It can be defined that the final TDDS isrecorded in a first sub area when b0 through b3 are “0000b”, a secondsub area when b0 through b3 are “0001b”, a third sub area when b0through b3 are “0010b”, a fourth sub area when b0 through b3 are“0100b”, and a fifth sub area when b0 trough b4 are “1000b”.

When the TDDS used as the AI is recorded, in order to increase apossibility of successfully reproducing the TDDS, it is preferable,though not necessary, that the TDDS is repeatedly recorded in onerecording block.

III. The Third Embodiment

The present embodiment is similar to the first embodiment describedabove. However, unlike the first embodiment, in the present embodiment,sub AI is not recorded in a write-once disc. Therefore, in the presentembodiment, a sub AIA is not allocated to a TDMA, and the main AI andthe main AIA in the first embodiment are represented as AI and an AIA,respectively.

A recording and/or reproducing apparatus in which the write-once discaccording to the present embodiment is loaded records user data in adata area and a TDDS in one of a plurality of TDMAs. If a newly updatedTDDS cannot be recorded in a TDMA in which a previous TDDS is recorded,due to the TDMA being full, the newly updated TDDS is recorded in one ofthe plurality of TDMAs based on a using order. Also, the newly updatedTDDS is recorded in one recording block of the AIA as the AI.

A reproducing apparatus in which the write-once disc according to thepresent embodiment is loaded accesses the AIA and determines a finalTDMA, in which a finally updated TDDS is recorded, among the pluralityof TDMAs on the basis of the number of recording blocks in which the AIis recorded. Then, the reproducing apparatus obtains the finally updatedAI from a recording block, which is finally recorded in the final TDMA.The reproducing apparatus obtains location information of the finalTDMA, in which the finally updated TDDS is recorded, from the finallyupdated AI. Finally, the reproducing apparatus obtains the finallyupdated TDDS from the final TDMA. Since a TDDS, which is recorded as theAI in the AIA, is recorded in the AIA only in a case such that a TDMA inwhich an updated TDDS is recorded is changed, the TDDS may be differentfrom the finally updated TDDS.

In the embodiments described above, when a TDDS used as the AI isrecorded, it is preferable, though not necessary, that the TDDS berepeatedly recorded in one recording block. If the size of the TDDS isequal to the size of one sector, 2K bytes, and if the size of therecording unit block is 64K bytes, one TDDS can be repeatedly recorded32 times in one recording block. An error correction format that enableserror correction in sector units is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No.6,367,049. If one TDDS is repeatedly recorded 32 times in one recordingunit block of a 64K byte size according to the error correction formatdisclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 6,367,049, a possibility of successfullyreproducing the TDDS can be highly increased.

FIG. 11 is a block diagram of a data recording and/or reproducingapparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention. Referringto FIG. 11, the data recording and/or reproducing apparatus includes awrite/read unit 1, a controller 2, and a memory 3. Under the control ofthe controller 2, the write/read unit 1 writes data on a write-once disc100 and reads the data recorded on the write-once disc 100. Thewrite-once disc 100 is a write-once disc according to the first orsecond embodiment.

The controller 2 controls the write/read unit 1 to write main AI, subAI, or AI according to the present invention on the write-once disc 100.

The controller 2 error-correction-encodes a TDDS used as the main AI,the sub AI, or the AI according to an error correction format thatenables error correction in sector units and controls the write/readunit 1 to repeatedly record the error-correction-encoded TDDS in arecording unit block. An error correction format that enables errorcorrection in sector units is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 6,367,049. Ifthe size of the TDDS is equal to the size of one sector, 2K bytes, andif the size of the recording unit block is 64K bytes, one TDDS can berepeatedly recorded 32 times in one recording block.

The operations of the recording and reproducing apparatus and thereproducing apparatus from the descriptions of the first and secondembodiments described above will be easily understood by those skilledin the art.

As described above, according to embodiments of the present invention,an access time for reading a predetermined kind of information requiredto use a write-once disc can be reduced. In particular, when a pluralityof update areas for writing updated information required to use thewrite-once disc exist, a recording apparatus or a reproducing apparatuscan quickly and easily determine an update area in which finally updatedinformation is recorded among the plurality of update areas.Furthermore, when access information is recorded, the access informationis error-correction-encoded according to a predetermined errorcorrection format, and the error-correction-encoded access informationis repeatedly recorded in one recording unit block. Accordingly, even ifdefects due to scratches are generated on the recording unit block inwhich the access information is repeatedly recorded, a possibility ofsuccessfully reproducing access information can be highly increased.

Although a few embodiments of the present invention have been shown anddescribed, it would be appreciated by those skilled in the art thatchanges may be made in this embodiment without departing from theprinciples and spirit of the invention, the scope of which is defined inthe claims and their equivalents.

1. A method of recording data on a write-once disc performed by a datarecording apparatus, the method comprising: recording updatedinformation in one of a plurality of update areas allocated to thewrite-once disc; recording predetermined information in at least one ofa plurality of unit blocks of an access information area when theupdated information is recorded on a predetermined update areacorresponding to the at least one of plurality of unit blocks; whereinthe access information area indicates an update area in which finallyupdated information is recorded among the plurality of the updatedareas; and wherein the predetermined information comprises an addressinformation that allows the data recording apparatus to find a locationof the update area.
 2. A method of reproducing data from on a write-oncedisc performed by a data reproducing apparatus, the method comprising:reproducing updated information from one of a plurality of update areasallocated to the write-once disc; reproducing predetermined informationfrom an access information area comprising a plurality of unit blocks;wherein at least one of the plurality of unit blocks of the accessinformation area is recorded with the predetermined information when theupdated information is recorded on a predetermined update areacorresponding to the at least one of plurality of unit blocks and theaccess information area indicates the update area in which finallyupdated information is recorded among the plurality of the updatedareas; and wherein the predetermined information comprises addressinformation that allows the data recording apparatus to find a locationof the update area.
 3. An information storage medium for a reproducingapparatus, comprising: a plurality of update areas in which to record aupdated information; an access information area comprising a pluralityof unit blocks corresponding to the plurality of update areas in whichto record predetermined information; wherein the predeterminedinformation is recorded in at least one of the plurality of the unitblocks of the access information area when the updated information isrecorded in a predetermined update area corresponding to the at leastone of the plurality of unit blocks; wherein the predeterminedinformation recorded in the at least one of the plurality of the unitblocks is at least one of the updated information which is recorded inthe predetermined update area corresponding to the at least one of theplurality of unit blocks; and wherein the predetermined informationcomprises address information that allows the reproducing apparatus tofind a location of the update area.